Colorful Tuna Mayo Rice Balls
Easy Three-Color Tuna Mayo Rice Balls That Kids Will Love! [Made with Simple Kimbap Ingredients]
For my 6-year-old daughter, who eats anything with vibrant colors, I’ve prepared three-color rice balls filled with her favorite tuna mayo and made with kimbap ingredients. To encourage her to eat vegetables she normally dislikes, I’ve finely chopped danmuji (pickled radish), carrots, and burdock root, adding them to make the rice balls colorful and appealing. Using a plate or placemat with her favorite characters can make mealtime even more enjoyable. The combination of creamy tuna mayo and the varied textures of vegetables is sure to delight children’s palates. Try this recipe not only for special occasions but also to help with picky eating habits or as a simple meal or snack!
Basic Ingredients- 1 can of tuna (drained)
- 5 pieces of danmuji (finely chopped)
- 5 pieces of carrot (finely chopped)
- 5 pieces of burdock root (finely chopped)
- 4 Tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 pinches of salt
- 2 pinches of black pepper
- 2 bowls of rice (warm)
Rice Seasoning- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the vegetables for the kimbap ingredients. Finely chop the danmuji, carrots, and burdock root so they are easy for children to eat. Using a pre-made kimbap ingredient kit can make this even simpler. You can use any vegetables you have at home, but for rice balls, lightly sautéing them before adding will improve their texture and flavor compared to using them raw.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the delicious tuna mayo filling. In a bowl, combine the drained tuna, 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 2 pinches of salt, and 2 pinches of black pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly combined. The creamy tuna mayo will make the rice balls even more flavorful.
Step 3
It’s time to season the rice, the base of our rice balls. In a bowl with 2 bowls of warm rice, add 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Gently mix with a spatula until evenly combined. The fragrant sesame oil will infuse the rice, creating tastier rice balls.
Step 4
Divide the seasoned rice into separate bowls. Then, artfully arrange the finely chopped danmuji, carrots, and burdock root on top of each portion of rice. This colorful arrangement will ensure your three-color rice balls look beautiful when mixed.
Step 5
Gently mix the vegetables into the rice with your hands, just enough to combine them. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the rice mushy. Mix lightly until the vegetables are incorporated.
Step 6
Now it’s time to add the tuna mayo filling and shape the rice balls. Take a portion of the seasoned rice in your hand, flatten it, place a generous amount of the tuna mayo filling in the center, and then carefully enclose it with the rice to form a round ball. It’s important to make them a size that’s easy for children to eat.
Step 7
Voila! Your delicious tuna mayo rice balls are ready. Placing them on a plate or placemat featuring your child’s favorite characters can further enhance their excitement. The vibrant colors captivated my daughter, and after a moment of curiosity at the colorful flecks of vegetables, she took a bite and loved it. The tuna mayo filling inside was a direct hit for her taste buds! She devoured all six rice balls in the blink of an eye. Another successful mission to get my child to eat vegetables! If your children are also picky eaters, why not try making these colorful and attractive rice balls? Enjoy a fun cooking time together and help them grow up healthy and happy.
